The Quiet Hours: A Holiday for Healing
Christmas time is fast approaching. In my last post I shared some thoughts on navigating the holiday period in the wake of a loss. I wanted to stay on this train of thought and talk to you about ways you can integrate your grief and healing into the holiday season.
Its now widely acknowledged that grief is something that once we have it we carry with us for life. And like all things that are difficult to face our first instinct is to run away, hide or ignore its existence. While this may bring us some relief, it is only temporary because the only way to make the load of grief lighter is to face it, to nurture it.
A gentle way to nuture our grief during the holiday season can come in the form of tradtions and rituals. We can honour our loved ones by including them in seasonal traditions. Making these rituals simple helps us to maintain our bonds with them without becoming too overwhelmed.
Gentle Ritual Ideas:
Light a candle in their memory
Hang an ornament that reminds you of them
Share a favourite story about them at dinner
Write them a letter
Play their favourite holiday song
Cook a dish they loved
Writing them a Christmas card
I think its also important to note how heavy this season can be, even undertaking one of the tasks above can leave us feeling very vulnerable and raw. During these times I find it is important to fall back onto activities that are tried and tested. I like to recommend journaling as a way to navigate difficult feelings, I feel like journal especially during busy periods can be quiet useful as we do not need to rely on others to support us in this. Its important to remember it does not need to be perfect and it does not need to be long. It just has to be a small amount of time you allot for yourself to sit, breath and reflect on the day. It could simply be one line that help summaries your thoughts/feelings, it could be in dot points, or it could be in pictures. All you need to do is give yourself the space and brief moment to let those emotions flow.
Low Pressure Journal Prompts:
“Today, grief feels like…”
“A memory I’m carrying this season is…”
“I feel closest to them when…”
Before closing out this post i just wanted to thank you for giving me a small slice of your time and energy in reading this post. I hope the season is kind to you and that you move through this month gently.
If you are exploring therapy and would like to talk a little more, schedule a consultation to see if we’re a good fit. I am more than happy to answer questions and even assist in providing resources were able.
Until Next Time, Be Gentle!
-Tsedeye
